Leading up to the 2016 legislative session, a new coalition was formed to advocate for a bill that will change Georgia’s current standard of proof for proving intellectual disability from “beyond a reasonable doubt” to “preponderance of the evidence” in death penalty cases involving people with...
I assigned this column to Mia’s sister and brother for the sibling issue. I asked them two questions: “What was it like growing up with Mia?” And, “What are you most concerned about for her future and yours with her?”
Annie wrote, “Growing up with Mia was a bunch of silliness. She made...
The sibling relationship is the longest relationship of most people’s lives and the peer nature of our relationships make us well-suited to support the self-determination of our brothers and sisters with disabilities.
Siblings play an important role in the lives of those with developmental...
What are Sibshops?For the adults who run them and for the agencies that sponsor them, Sibshops are evidence of the loving concern for the family member who will have the longest-lasting relationship with a person who has a disability.
However, for the kids who attend them, Sibshops are...
It was Friday, July 13, 1984. That was the day I became a big brother. With the birth of my brother Jarvis, came my expectations of hanging out, playing sports, fighting, goofing off, going to school and growing up alongside my new best friend. Some of these expectations would come to pass, but...
My sister Melissa is three years older than me, but you could never tell. At five-feet-tall and under 100 pounds, I’ve always felt like the older one. That is mostly because Melissa was born with Down syndrome and deafness. I grew up faster than she did in every way possible – potty-training,...
“It was important for me to meet people with disabilities in the employment environment and see what impact they have in the workplace,” said Rep. Scot Turner (R – Holly Springs), who has a son on the autism spectrum and also is a longtime advocate for people with disabilities.
Rep. Turner...
As you read this issue, the 2016 Georgia legislative session has already begun. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is at the Gold Dome on a daily basis working hard alongside policymakers, partners and other allies.
We are committed to being there during the session to...
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) set out across the State to listen to what changes people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and other advocates wanted to see over the next five years in regards to disability services and supports. As a part of its mission to...
Mixed Greens Goes Mobile
GCDD’s Real Communities initiative Forsyth Farmers’ Market is going mobile. The Forsyth Farmers’ Market Farm Truck 912 will be a mobile market that will bring local fruits and vegetables to Savannah neighborhoods that do not provide healthy food options. Farm Truck 912,...
